A New Concept of Energy Security for the Electric Utility Sector.

In the U.S. and abroad, energy analysts continue to promote narrow interpretations of energy security as the mere "availability" of domestic resources or access to fuel. In contrast, this paper proposes a more holistic concept of energy security and argues that it should be composed of six criteria: diversification, availability, geopolitical stability, insulation, social acceptability, and environmental prudence. The first principle, diversification, entails diversifying the types of fuel, the mechanisms of power generation, and the geographical distribution of generation facilities. The second principle, availability, refers to how well a system can utilizes domestically available fuels. A third component of true energy security is geopolitical stability, or how energy resources promote cooperation and respect for human rights. Fourth is insulation, or how well energy systems are integrated into the global energy marketplace in ways that minimize disruptions and price spikes. Fifth is social acceptability, or how quickly and accurately the existing system ensures that local cultures and communities are protected. A final, important component of energy security is environmental prudence, or how well energy systems protect human health, promote social cohesion, and minimize damage to the natural environment. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]